It is strangely important to me to have a well-edited carry on. It's way up there next to not forgetting my passport. I think it's my way of coping with the stress of flying. Whenever I have a trip coming up, I would start planning weeks in advance - visiting travel forums, checking out blogs, trawling Muji for newfangled travel-related stuff. In contrast, I wouldn't even know who would pick me up at the airport until the day before my flight.

I do feel that after years of overzealous packing I have finally hit the Goldilocks of carry on bags - not overpacked, not underpacked, just right - when I made a quick trip home over the weekend. Everything I brought, I needed, and I did not forget anything that would've been useful. Well, except hair ties. Stupid me forgot her hair ties.